Presenilins Associated Rhomboid Like Protein (PARL)

PARL encodes a mitochondrial integral membrane protein. Following proteolytic processing of this protein, a small peptide (P-beta) is formed and translocated to the nucleus. This gene may be involved in signal transduction via regulated intramembrane proteolysis of membrane-tethered precursor proteins. Variation in this gene has been associated with increased risk for type 2 diabetes. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms.The deduced 379-amino acid protein has a calculated molecular mass of about 42.2 kD. In vitro, PARL cDNA generated a polypeptide of about 40 kD. PARL shares significant similarity with the Drosophila development regulator Rhomboid, including 6 conserved transmembrane regions. In addition, PARL has a nonconserved N-terminal transmembrane helix.